Car coupling



March 3, 1931. N. scHLElcl-l ET AL CAR COUPLIANG vFiled DBC. 27, 1926 21Sheets-Sheet l March 3, 1931. N. scHLElcH En' AL 1,795,147

CAR COUPLING Filed Dec. 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W M, 1 .M um. w J. muy w. WM. .w M. m. QN v E: Wi H., mi ma A wl M.. m.

March 3, 1931. N. scHLElcl-l E'r A1.

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N. s'cHLEl'cH ET VAL CAR COUPLING Filed Dec. '27. 192s 4 sheets-sheet 4M n W NLC/' jah@ ci.

zeide. r 7 l, akomnquf l Patented Mar. 3, l 1931 j 'it-iron scHLEronANncLARnNcn J. ALDRIDGE, or GREAT' rALLs,` MONTANA, AssIeNoRs oFoNn-THrnnTo`.ii/icona.. GonRGnN, oF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA CAR coUPLLNG Applicationfiled December 27, 1926. Seral'No. 157,256.

The invention relatesto devices for coupling cars andcontemplates meansfor simul- .taneously connectingthe several pipes, such as the air line,the steam line, the signal line ,and the electrical conductors, therebyobviat- .ing separateand independent operation to couple or uncouplesuchparts. The invention Lprovides novel coupling means and uniquereleasing means, the cou- -plingmeansbeing projected into operativeposition by gravitative action, thereby obvij ating the use of springswhich is objection- Y able, mainly because of theirsusceptibility toderangement and impairment. Y .The invention furthermore relates to apeculiar arrangement of passages for the fluid medium and controllingmeans `forsuch passages'automatic in `actionrfor `establishingcommunication betweenthe several lines when -the carsaie run togetherand for breaking the communicationand closing the passages when the-cars; are uncoupled `oi' separated.

Vhile the drawings illustrate apreferred lnbodiment of `the invention,it is tobe under- `stood'that in adapting the means to meet Aspecificneeds and requirements, the desicrn mayfbe varied andsuch other changesin t e minor details of construction may be resorted to:within the scope`"of the invention as thereof. Y i

For afull understanding. of the invention f and the merits thereof,reference is to be had `hereto attached, in which,-. o j

-Figure 1 is a to plan view cfa car cou- .plingembodying t e invention,showing the .cooperating members in engagement and just 1 jprior to thecouplingthereofin the final step.`

lookingfin thedrection of the arrows.l

:Figure ,4 iswa vertical'transverse, sectionalview on the line L.1 lofFigure r1, looking in the direction of thearrows.

claimed, withoutjdeparting from the `spirit` to the followingdescription and-the drawings;

sectional yie'w on. the lineB--S` of Figure 2, i

Figure 5 is ahorizontal sectional *view showing oneA of the passages andthe controlling .means therefor, the parts being on a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a `detail ,perspective view of oIle of the llocks,andtheoperating means for withdrawing the same into releasing position.

Corresponding and like partsare referred to in the following descriptionand designated in the several views of the drawings by like referencecharacters.

The coupling contemplates cooperating companion members of likeformation, but reversely `disposed to admit of their meeting tocoupleadjacent cars `when run together. Because of the like formation ofthe inembers,a detailed description of one will suti'ice for a clearunderstanding of both.

Each of the coupling members comprises a head 1 and spacedcomplementaljaws 2 and 3. 'A lug 4; projecting form the rear end of thehead 1 enters a recess formed in the head 5 of a draw bar 6 to which thecoupling member is. pivoted by meansA of `a king-bolt 7.

Emergency bolts 8 pass through slots 9 formed in vthe lug 4 and aremounted in the Atop and bottom wallsl of the head 5. In the event of theking-bolt 7 giving way the emor- :gency bolts 8 carry theload andprevent the separation of the coupling from the draw bar. Thejaw Shas aplurality of passages 'p10 formedtherein which extend through the outeror forward end of thejaw and each of which communicates `at its inner orrear end with a transverse passage 11 to which a hose pipe 12 is coupledin any determinate way, and which is connected to the proper train linefor the flow `of oil, steam orother fluid medium. `The outer` end ofleach of the passages is enlarged and receives a packing v lwhich is heldiii place by means of a retainer 1 4 whichconsists of a ringlthreadedintogthe forward enlarged end of the pack- .ing. Alongitudinal chamber15-is formed in the head 1 oppositethe space formed between the jaws 2and `.3 andreceives a piston i `valve 16. The transverse passage 11 isinj-tersected by the valve chamber 15 andthe piston valve 16 is formed`with a transverse openinglS and a longitudinal opening 19.

:Whenthe pistonvalvel,occupies a position 10,*a tight jointbeing'assuredby means of at the limitof its rearward movement-whenpressed into'the valve chamber' 15, the Yopentherpiston valveV161-forwardly. A projec' valve 15 enters an opening 22 formed in the eVingv thereof registersl with the passage 11,

thus establishing' communication between Vthe passages of thecouplingmem'bers and between the train lines of adjacent cars. An openhelical 'spring' 2 0, within the Vrear portion of the valve chamber 15,normally urges tion 21 at the inner or rear end of the piston 1 head 1and these parts are Vof noncircular out- ;5 ing 18 with the passage 1'1when the piston lineA to preserve the relative position Yof the pistonvalve to insure registering ofthe open# valve isV moved rearwardlywithin lthe valve chamber 15. The forward portion of the.

VVpiston valve 16 is reduced` and operates i through a ring 23 threadedinto the outer end of the valvev chamber which serves as a stop to.limit the forward movement :of the piston valve.- 'IA tapered extension24 at `thev outer'endofthe piston valve is Vadapted to#V enter theenlarged outer end of theJ passage the packing 13 Vand ring 14. It is tobe un- 1 derstood that a piston valve is provided fory eachf ofthe-passages 10 andthat avpassage j is had for each trainv line.Y Asindicated most Y clearly in Figuresy 3 and 4, three passages 10 areprovided, one ifor the air line for the brake fi-systemy; one .for `thesteam lineffor l heatingyand onei'for the signal line. In ad- .dition tothe three passages y10,'there isl proj vided a similar passage forthereception of an electric'conductor 25, said passage hav' ling itsforward end'enlarge'd to receive a socket'26, which is electricallyinsulated from the-coupling member. A f chamber 27 is formedin the head1 opposite the space sepa-V rating the j aws2 and and receives a circuitI ljl'closer which ispressed forwardly byfopen coil springs 28 and29. `Aringf23a fitted in theouter end of the chamber27 limits the forward ;movement of the] circuit closer.. [The circuit closer comprises sections30 and V31, the spring/28 being' disposed between vsaid-j sections Vandthefsp'ring29 beingar'rangedg., x betweenzthe rear wall ofthe chamber 2?Aand v the section 31, whereby toV press the latter forwardly and break;the connection between i it and arv socket 32`,fto which-a-lexible'conductor 33 is'connected. jWhen the' members are runcoupledthe circuit closer-is pressed; `forwardly by means ofthe spring 29,`therebyl -fbreakmgA the connection between it and they y socket 32.v'When theQmemberfs are coupled the circuit i.closeris-pres'sed'rearwardly'and' engagesthe socket' 32', thereby.establishing `a .connection betweenth'e conductorsl 25and 33,

j -it being remembered that the projecting end Y. .of the section 3()entersv and makes electric'.

connection ywith the socket-26. .i

The jaw 2 has a recess1 34V formed therein and a Ylock *35 vis pivotallymounted within projecting beyond the inner side of the jaw 2, so as toenter a recess formed in the outer side of the jaw 3 of the.companionmember The lock 35 consists cfa `block and is pivoted at itsforward end withinthe recess'34. The lower face of the lock 35 isinclined laterally and rests upon the bottom of they recess 34 vwhich is'laterally inclined, asfindicatedat v37. rlhe lateralinclination ofthecontiguous faces36 and 37 is such asto effect a lateral movement of theVblock and hold its rear end projecting beyond the inner side of the jaw2, so asto engage the forward wall of the recess 38 formed in the outerside ofthe jaw 3 of the companion member; TheV rear vend ofthe lock 35is provided with a projection 39 which is adapted to ride upon anYinclined portion V40of an 'operating member having a stem 4l, whichprojects beyond the member tobe operated from above or below asrequired. Upwardlmovement of the stem 41 causes the incline 40'to rideupon the pro ections 39 and move the rear end of the lock 35 'within'therecess 34, therebygwithdrawi-ng its 'rear end fromengagement withl thejaw 3 so that the membe'rsof thecoupling may be end withinthe recess 38and its rear end is engagement vof the adjacent lock 35 from the`forward wall of the recess'38r. An operating member -43,'similar' to*the lock operating member 41', is mounted in a vertical opening formedin the jaw?) andincommunication with the recess 38. rlhe operating'member 43 has an yinclined portion 44 Ato"erfl'ectl-'ateral movement ofthelock release 42.VVV 'The stem ofthemember 43 projects beyond'thecoupling member to Ibe operated 4fromabove or below. As shown', thestems `of the' members 41A and 43 project above Vthej topf 'of thecoupling-memberand are' connected to arms 45 and 46 projecting` from.theflsh'aft47, which may be operated' from either side of the car. Asthejmember 43 ismoyed upwardly lthe fi'ncline'dportio'n'f44fride'siipo'nvr the lock re- *le'ase 42 andnioves itlaterally to pressthe f adjacent lock' 35 within they recess 34while at the same; timeztheropposite lock 35 is withdrawnwithinits recessby the inclined portion4QV riding uponv the projectionl 39. It is .observed that'rotation of.thel shaft 47 effects simultaneous `upward Vm'oveinent "of 1 bothirl'embersj 411and 43'v connected to; the'arms thereof, the member 41withdrawing the lock 35 of they coupling meinberupon the shaft ismounted and theV member 43 project- Vingthe lock 'release so;Y as todisengage "the lock 3 5 ofthe companionij aw'vfinomlthe jaw 125containing the" positively operated flock relea'se 42. The upper "endsof the recesses 38 and 40 are closed by cup plates, Vas indicated mostclearly inFigu'res 1 and 4'. The jaws vadapted'to be'nioved laterallytoeffect dis-V separa-ted. A lock release 42 is pivoted at one of thecoupling` members Aare adapted` to enter the spaces formed betweencompanion.

:jaws. The recesses 38 are formed in the the locks 35 is directlyreleased by the mem- 'pis her 4l, and the other lock is released by themember 42.Y Itwill thus be understood that there isa positive lockbetween corresponding -jaws 2 and 3 of the coupling members, both locksbeing simultaneously released by operation of either one ofthe shafts47, or other meansprovided for actuating` the inembers 41 and 43. vThenthe cars to be coupled are run together the several trainlines andelectric conductors are simultaneously coupled, thereby establishingcommunication be- 'l tween the respective train lines and electricconductors. llVhenV the cars are uncoupled the several train lines areautomatically closedto prevent any waste of the air or steam, and thecircuit closing device for connecting thel electric conductors assumes aneutral position, so that the projecting portion may not have anycurrent taken therefrom by contact of an object therewith. Y

The conductor 25 is electricallyconnected with the socket 26, and theconductor 33 is Velectrically connected with the socket 32.

I-Ience, the conductors 33 and 25 are electrical- Y ly connected whenthe cars are coupled.

`Having thus described the invention, we claim:

l. A car coupling comprising a member havingV spaced jaws and having arecess formed in one of the jaws and opening throngh'a side thereof, thebottom of the recess beingl laterally inclined, a lock pivoted j withinthe said recess and having its bottom side laterallyzinclined to coactwith the laterally inclined bottom of the recess to normally hold thelock projected into operative position, and means for moving thelockinto inoperative position t'o admit of uncoupling.

2.V A car coupling comprising a `member including a head and spaced jawsprojecting therefrom, one Vof the jaws having a longitudinal passageopening through the extremity thereof, and the head having atransversepassage in communication with the inner end ot' the said longitudinalpassage, and having av valve chamber intersecting the transverse passageand opening into the space formed j between the jaws, and a springactuated valve in said chamber normally projecting into the space formedbetween the jaws and interrupting the transverse passage and adapted tobe pressed inward to admit ofV uninterrupted flow through the passagewhen the.` cars j are coupled.

including a head and spaced jaws projecting in said chamber normallyextending into the space provided between the jaws and formed withintersecting transverse and longitudinal openings, the transverseopening being normally out of line with the said transverse passage andadapted to register therewith when the valve is pressed in by a couplingof the cars.

4. A car coupling comprising a member including transversely spacedportions defining jaws, one of the jaws having a recess extendingthrough its inner face, and having the bottom of the recess transverselyinclined inwardly and downwardly, a lock pivoted in a recess and havingits bottom side laterally inclined to coact with the inclined bottom ofthe recess to normally hold the lock projected, and lock releasing meansmounted in the recess jaw.

y. In testimony whereof we'aiix our signatures.

NICK SCHLEICH. L. s.

CLARENCE J. ALD in E. [1.. e]

' 34A carcoupling comprising a member Y'

